Combination carrying case and display easel



Oct. 22, 1963 R. c. WHITNEY COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY EASEL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 16, 1961 INVENTOR.

ROBERT IL. WHITNEY A T TURNEY Oct. 22, 1963 R. c. WHITNEY COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY EASEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1961 INVENTOR. IEEEERT IL. WHITNEY ATTDRNEY United States Patent T is 3,107,448 CUMBiNATiON tlARRYING CASE AND DHSPLAY EASEL Robert C. Whitney, Trumbull, Conn, assignor to L. A. Whitney Associates, Incorporated, Trumhull, Conn, a

corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 96,149 3 Claims. ((31. 40-102) The present invention relates to a combination carrying case and display easel, particularly for use by salesmen, lecturers, teachers, etc., for carrying sequentially arranged loose-leaf sheets, display cards, or the like, so that in the closed carrying case position the loose-leaf members will be enclosed and protected, and in the open easel position they will be effectually displayed for sequential visual presentation.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character including a main display panel member, which in the closed carrying case position constitutes a back wall support for the loose-leaf display members, and cover members hingedly connected to each side edge of the main panel member, which in the open easel position provide auxiliary display panels forming extensions of the main display panel and lying in a common plane therewith.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character which is self-erecting from its closed carrying case position to its open easel position through opening movement of the hinged cover members. Another object is to provide a self-erecting structure including means which in the open easel position rigidly maintains the open cover members in the common plane with the main display panel.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the combined carrying case and display easel in its closed carrying case position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation showing the open easel position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation in the open position as seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view in the open position;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation in the open position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view partially in horizontal section and partially in top plan taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view partially in horizontal section and partially in top plan taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the combined carrying case and display easel, according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, comprises a main display panel 10 of rectangrl-ar outline connected at its vertical side edges along taped hinge lines 11-11 to relatively narrow end wall panels 12-12 which in turn are connected along taped hinge lines 13-13 to rectangular cover panels 14-14. In the open position as seen in ddhlii Patented Get. 22, 1963 "ice PEG. 3 the panels 1%, 12-12 and 14-14 lie in a common plane and present a display surface of large area, preferably covered with a layer of flannel 15 to thus provide a display area of the so-called flannel board type which enables cutout paper displays of suitable texture to be readily adhered thereto in flat relation.

Along the upper marginal portion of the main panel 10 is secured a strip 16 having a series of split or separable rings 17 for engaging the upper perforated edge of looseleaf sheets S, shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4, so that the sheets are normally suspended therefrom upon the panel 10, or they may be turned back upon the rings to the rear of the panel it) in the manner well known in connection with loose-leaf binders. The strip 16 and rings 17 may be of any suitable loose-leaf binder type.

in the closed position the end wall panels 12 are hingedly moved to a position at right angles to the panel 10 and the cover panels 14 are hingedly moved inwardly to overlapping closed relation with respect to each other where they are in spaced substantially parallel relation to the panel 10, to thus form a rectangular box-like enclosure for the display sheets supported upon the strip 16. It is pointed out that the panels above described, as well as other panel-like members presently to be described,

are preferably formed of relatively stitf card or fibre board sheets suit-ably covered with coated fabric or plastic sheet material, for instance, of the so-called imitation leather type, with the hinge connections formed by tape as shown, or by stitching or adhering the covering material in the spaces between the edges of the adjacent sheets in the manner well known in the bookbinding and boxmaking arts. As above pointed out, the display surfaces of the panels 10, 12-12 and 14-14 are covered with a layer of flannel 15 and this is preferably a single sheet continuously adhered to and covering the several panels.

A b ack or easel support panel f trapezoidal outline and of corresponding vertical dimension to the panel 16 is connected at its upper edge to the upper edge of the panel 10 along a taped hinge line 19, FIG. 11, the hinged upper edges being of substantially corresponding length. Relatively narrow end Wall panels 20-20 are connected along taped hinge lines 21-21 to the side edges of the panel 18 and are also connected along taped hinge lines 22-22 to the rearward side edges of triangular strut panels 23-23, which in turn are connected at their forward edges along taped hinge lines 24-24 to the cover panels 14. The hinge lines 24 are diagonally disposed from a point adjacent the upper ends of the respective hinge lines 13 to points along the lower edges of respective panels 14 spaced from the hinge lines 13 a distance substantially less than the lengths of the lower edges of the respective strut panels 2?. Thus, in the closed position as seen in FIG. 1, where the strut panels lie in parallel relation against the cover panels '14, the hinge lines 22 diverge downwardly and outwardly with respect to the hinge lines 13.

The end wall panels 29 are slightly wider than the end wall panels 12 and in the closed position permit the back panel 18 to lie substantially parallel and in contact with the display panel 1% while the cover panels 14 overlap each other in parallel spaced relation to the display panel 10.

A spacer member 25 hinged along a central taped hinge line 26 is hingedly connected along taped hinge lines 27 and 23 to the lower edges of the display and back panels 16 and 18. In the closed position as seen in FIG. 10 the spacer member folds fiat between the panels 16 and 18 and in the open position as seen in FIG. 11 it assumes a horizontal position where it rigidly maintains the open position of the panels 1% and 18 and through the strut panels 23 rigidly maintains the cover panels 14 in their open position in the common plane with the panel 10.

A top closure panel 29 is connected at its rearward edge along a taped hinge line 39 to the upper edge of the panel 18 and is connected at its forward edge along a taped hinge line 31 to a flap panel 32 which in the closed position is releasably secured to the outwardly disposed overlapping cover panel 14 by snap fasteners 33, the overlapping cover panels being reieasably secured to each other by snap fasteners 34. A pair of flexible handle members 3535 are respectively secured by rivets 36 to the flap panel 32 and the upper marginal portion of the bacl: panel 18 and in the closed carrying case position may be grasped for carrying in the manner of a brief case or travelling bag. In the open easel arrangement the top closure panel 29 and the flap panel 32 fold to the rearward side as clearly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 with the handle members 35 folded beneath them.

In operation, the combined carrying case and display easel of the invention is set up from its closed carrying case position as seen in FIG. 1 by separating the snap fasteners 33 to unfasten the flap panel 3-2 and by separating the snap fasteners 34 to unfasten the cover panels 14, whereupon the cover panels and the end wall panels 12 are swung to the open position as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. This opening movement causes the back panel 18 and the end wall panels 24} to be opened through the swinging movement of the strut panels 23 into an inverted V relation to the panels and 12, the spacer member 25 at the same time moving from its folded vertical position as seen in FIG. 10 to its flattened horizontal position as seen in FIG. 11, in which latter position it limits the opening movement of the panels and provides a rigid spacer against closing movement to thus rigidly maintain the cover panels 14 and end wall panels 12 in a common plane with the main display panel 10. The loose-leaf sheets S may thereupon be sequentially displayed and turned back to the rear of the structure, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4, where they are supported against sharp bending by the folded back top closure panel 29 and flap panel 32 and their lower edges are supported in non-sagging relation against the back panel 18. In certain types of presentations the loose-leaf sheets S may have pocket or slot formations containing cutout paper displays of suitable texture which may be removed from the pocket or slot and placed in adhering fiat relation upon the flannel board display surface of the cover panels 14.

It is pointed out that the upper edges of the end wall panels 12 and 2%) are free of each other, so that in moving from the closed to the open position the top edges of the end wall panels 20 may assume an angular relation with respect to the top edges of the end walls 12 as clearly shown in FIG. 6, the normal slightly lengthwise yieldability of the hinge connections permitting the panels to adjust to this position without appreciable bending or distortion.

What is claimed is:

1. in a combined carrying case and display easel, a rectangular display panel, having vertical side edges, a trapezoidal back panel of substantially the same vertical height as said display panel having its upper edge substantially co-extensive with and hingedly connected to the upper edge of said display panel and having downwardly and outwardly inclined side edges, said display and back panels adapted in a closed position to lie in substantially contacting parallel relation to each other and in an open position to lie in downwardly divergent relation to each other, a pair of cover panels having vertical side edges at their inner ends hingedly connected to the respective vertical side edges of said display panel adapted in a closed position to lie in overlapping relation to each other and in substantially parallel covering relation to the forward side of said display panel and in an open position to extend outwardly from the side edges of said display panel, and a pair of triangular strut panels each having a substantially horizontal lower edge and a pair of upwardly convergent side edges, hingedly connected at one of their side edges to the side edges of said back panel, and hingedly connected at the other of their side edges to said cover panels along diagonal lines extending from substantially the upper ends of said vertical side edges of said cover panels to the lower edges of said cover panels at points spaced from said cover panel side edges :1 distance substantially less than the respective lengths of the lower edges of said strut panels.

2. In a combined carrying case and display easel, a rectangular display panel, having vertical side edges, 3. trapezoidal back panel of substantially the same vertical height as said display panel having its upper edge substantially coextensive with and hingedly connected to the upper edge of said display panel and having downwardly and outwardly inclined side edges, said display and back panels adapted in a closed position to lie in substantially contacting parallel relation to each other and in an open position to lie in downwardly divergent relation to each other, a pair of cover panels having vertical side edges at their inner ends, a pair of end wall panels having parallel side edges respectively hingedly connected to the vertical side edges of said display panels, said cover panels adapted in a closed position to lie in overlapping relation to each other and in substantially parallel covering relation to the forward side of said display panel, with said end Wall panels substantially at right angles to said display and cover panels, and in an open position to extend outwardly from the side edges of said display panel, a second pair of end wall panels having parallel side edges respectively hingedly connected to the side edges of said back panel, and a pair of triangular strut panels each having a substantially horizontal lower edge and a pair of upwardly convergent side edges hingedly connected at one of their side edges to the side edges of said respective second end wall panels, and hingedly connected at the other of their side edges to said cover panels along diagonal lines extending from substantially the upper ends of said vertical side edges of said cover panels to the lower edges of said cover panels at points spaced from said cover panel side edges a distance substantially less than the respective lengths of the lower edges of said strut panels.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, further characterized by a top closure panel hingcdly connected to the upper edge of said back panel, and means for releasably connecting said closure panel to said cover panels in their closed position.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,229,012 Geyzer Jan. 14, 1941 2,554,408 Hile May 22, 1951 2,867,045 Millgate Jan. 6, 1959 

1. IN A COMBINED CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY EASEL, A RECTANGULAR DISPLAY PANEL, HAVING VERTICAL SIDE EDGES, A TRAPEZOIDAL BACK PANEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME VERTICAL HEIGHT AS SAID DISPLAY PANEL HAVING ITS UPPER EDGE SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVE WITH AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID DISPLAY PANEL AND HAVING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED SIDE EDGES, SAID DISPLAY AND BACK PANELS ADAPTED IN CLOSED POSITION TO LIE IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONTACTING PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND IN AN OPEN POSITION TO LIE IN DOWNWARDLY DIVERGENT RELATION TO EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF COVER PANELS HAVING VERTICAL SIDE EDGES AT THEIR INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE VERTICAL SIDE EDGES OF SAID DISPLAY PANEL ADAPTED IN A CLOSED POSITION TO LIE IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL COVERING RELATION TO THE FORWARD SIDE OF SAID DISPLAY PANEL AND IN AN OPEN POSITION TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID DISPLAY PANEL, AND A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR STRUT PANELS EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOWER EDGE AND A PAIR OF UPWARDLY CONVERGENT SIDE EDGES, HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ONE OF THEIR SIDE EDGES TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BACK PANEL AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER OF THEIR SIDE EDGES TO SAID COVER PANELS ALONG DIAGONAL LINES EXTENDING FROM SUBSTANTIALLY THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID VERTICAL SIDE EDGES OF SAID COVER PANELS TO THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID COVER PANELS AT POINTS SPACED FROM SAID COVER PANEL SIDE EDGES A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE RESPECTIVE LENGTHS OF THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID STRUT PANELS. 